Book- and copyholder



Oct. 23, 1951 A. R. KEITH BOOK AND COPY HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March '7, 1949 :0 mm NK m6 m M T u k. m

H1 zorne y Oct. 23, 1951 Filed Mardh 7, 1949 A. R KEITH BOOK AND COPY HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l l I JNVENTOR.

Oct. 23, 1951 A. R. KEITH BOOK AND COPY HOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 7, 1949 8 E QW W n a m A m u 3w mw F J M Oct. 23, 1951 KE|TH 2,572,731

BOOK AND COPY HOLDER Filed March '7, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to holders such as may be used for books, magazines and manuscripts which are being held in position for reading 01' transcription.

In holders which are designed to hold books, manuscripts and magazines, one of the greatest problems is to provide holding means which will at the same time secure the work to be held and which may be readily adjusted for other work which may have different physical characteristics. This is particularly true where a thick book is to be held for reading or copying and which may be directly followed by use with a thin manuscript.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved book, magazine or manuscript holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such an improved holder wherein a base means carries an adjustable pivoting support mounted on the base, with an adjustable rack carried by the pivoting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such an improved holder wherein a base means carries a pivoting means with a readily adjustable rack carried by the pivoting means.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such an invention wherein there is a base means, a pivoting means carried thereby with a rack on the pivoting means with coacting connections between the rack and pivoting means permitting the easy removal of the rack.

Another and still further object of the invention is the provision of such an improved holder wherein there is a rack with holding means on one side for the reception and holding of a mag-- azine or book fold with means for holding at the same time, the lower edges of the pages.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such an improved holder wherein there is a readily removable rack with a pivoting means supported on a base means with a means for readily adjusting for angularity to facilitate the operator in adjusting the pages to a plane substantially normal to the line of sight of the operator.

Still another and further object of this invention is the provision of such a holder wherein a rack is provided with a double bent edge on two sides for receiving the fold of a magazine or softcover book at one side and to hold the bottoms of the pages at another side.

Still another and further object of the invention is the provision of such a holder with a reversible rack and means for holding the cover of a book in place with additional means for holding the sheets flat without covering the reading matter.

Other and further objects will be apparent to ill) those skilled in the art from a reading of the complete specification and claims.

Referring to the drawing wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view with parts arranged as copy or manuscript holder, from a slightly raised elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown, with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the parts arranged as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with parts broken away for the sake of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a front View of the invention being used as a magazine holder when the magazine fold is at the right of the operator.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the invention as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the invention with the parts of the holder in position for use with a bound book having stiff covers.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the structure as arranged in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the line follower.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line illi of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a view of a modified line follower with a detail view of the top outline of the rack, showing the line follower in place on the rack.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of a modification of the step adjusting device.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, there are three primary parts: the base means upon which the structure stands, the rack which carries the copy whether it be a book, magazine or limp sheets of paper and the means for connecting the base means with the rack to permit the rack to occupy any one of many angular positions relative to the base means in order to accommodate the copy to the eye of the operator and bring the line of sight as near to a position normal to the plane of the copy as is practical. 'The rack for the copy is so constructed that it may serve equally well as a holder for a book, when in one arrangement and as a magazine or a manuscript holder in other arrangements of the parts. And regardless of the use, the rack may be adjusted to vary the angle of the rack with relation to the table or desk upon which the holder rests.

Throughout the specification and drawing, the same reference characters are used to designate the same or similar parts.

The base means which, as illustrated, comprises a flat plate member 20, has a turned up front edge 20a, a rear turned up portion 20b and side turned up portions 2G0, one at each side of the plate member 20. The front portion 20a and the rear portion Zilb are to provide stiffness for the base means or member 29. The side portions 200 are to provide for stiifness and and are for the additional function of supporting the rack as will be presently described.

To support the copy, there is provided a rack 2| which has a double bend at two of its sides as at 2|a and 2|b, to provide for stifiness and also to provide for connection to the pivoting means which will be now described. The pivoting means 22 may be of various shapes, the present embodiment having two side members 22a which are connected together by the bridge member 22b. The pivoting means 22 is provided with a pair of rectangular cuts at the rear of each side member projection 22a, as at 220. These rectangular cuts 22c are of a size and shape to snugly receive the portion 2 la, 2 |b, of the rack 2|, whichever is placed on the bottom, in a manner to sup port the rack 2| in any of its angular positions of adjustment.

To provide for these angular adjustments there are provided pivot members 23 in the form of bolts having wing nuts 23a which are readily adjusted by the hand of the operator. The pivot members 23 extend through registering holes in the side members 200 of the base means 20 and similar and registering holes in the corresponding side members 22a.

Forward of the rectangular cuts 220 in the side members 22a are cuts or indentations 22d which serve as holders when needed for the hard covers of a book B which may provide the copy for the operator. This is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. It will be noted that the cuts or indentations 22d are so constructed that they are parallel to the plane of the rack 2| when in use, so that when the angular position of the rack is changed, the book cover b, which may be occupying the cut 22d, will move with the rack 2| without damage to its cover.

Still nearer the front of the holder and in each of the sides 22a of the pivoting member 22, I provide' a slot 22c in which is carried a sliding adjusting pivot 2 which is provided, at its inner end, with a threaded portion which coacts with a thread on th inner portion of a U-shape member 2 2a. Carried on the sliding pivot 24 is an adjustable retaining member 25 which has several functions which will later be made clear. The shape of this retaining member 25 is preferably curved to meet the conditions for which it is provided. From the side views of the different arrangements, it is clear that the reiaining member 25 may hold the leaves of a book B, or a magazine M or one of the double bent portions 2|a, 2|b of the rack 2! from accidental displacement from its position on the pivoting member, when in use. A suitable rubber or leather washer 25b is provided between the parts 22a and 25 to prevent slipping when in use.

The bridge member 2272 may be so disposed with relation to the slots 22d that when holding a book B, the main body of the leaves of the book may restthereon for support. In such a set-up, it will be noted that the retaining members 25 may be so adjusted that their respective rounded ends 25a will bear against the book B to assist in retaining it in proper place and to hold the leaves flat so they may be in position to be viewed by the operator as shown in the drawing, Fig. 6 and Fig. '7.

The folded over portions 2| a, 2|b are preferably so proportioned that they will receive the fold of the average magazine M when the thinner part of the open magazine is folded over and against the back. When this is done, the rack 2| is supported in the rectangular cuts 220 so that the main body 2|c is against the rear side of the cut and the open side is toward the front to receive the fold of the magazine behind the portion 25a or 21b which is in a vertical position and the lower edges of the pages of the magazine are held behind the horizontal double bend 2 lb or 2 la, depending upon whether the rack 29 is placed in the cuts 220 in a vertical or in a horizontal position.

The wing nuts 23a are provided so that the desired tightness between the members 200 and 22a may be obtained. But it does not follow that the wing nuts 23a have to be adjusted each time the angular position of the rack 2| is changed. In order to provide a quick and effective adjustment of the parls, there is provided an adjusting means at the back of the rack.

In the tops of the portions 22] which are at the rear of the rectangular cuts 220, I provide openings to receive trunnions Eta of the adjusting member 2%. The adjusting member 26 may be of any desirable shape, but in the illustration of the invention, it is shown as being triangular, the trunnions 26c being placed at two angles and the adjusting point Zeb being at the rear. Mounted suitable on the base means plate 2 lo preferably on a frontto-rear cenier line, is a step adjusting device 21, so placed that the adjusting point 26b may contact any one of the steps Z'ia and be held in a corresponding adjustment. It will be observed that the trunnions 26a are out of the plane which coniains the pivot members 23 and the point .2612 when in contact with any one of the steps 27a. Due to this construction, a movement of the rack by the hand in a rear to front direction will cause the adjusting device 26 to engage a step 27a nearer the front, the trunnions 26a'being fitted in their bearings in the portions 22f loose enough to permit free movement.

It will be observed also that the pivot members 23 are forward of the greater portion of the rack member 2| which when tilted backwardly a slight bit, will overcome the forward portion of the pivoting member 22 and cause a net tendency for the rack 2| to rotate backwardly. This action causes the point 282) of the adjusting member 26, to stay in engagement with the step Zla of the corresponding adjustment. It thus appears that if an adjustment to a more nearly vertical position is desired, it is only necessary to move the rack to the desired position and the point 25b will move with the rack and fall into a lower step 21a. If, however, it is desired to move the rack to a, position farther from the vertical, it is necessary only to place a finger under the adjusting member 25 and lift the point clear of the steps Zia and move the rack backwardly to the desired angle. By releasing the finger from the adjusting member 26, the point 26b will come into registry with the nearest step 27a and the rack 2i is in adjusted position.

In using the rack 2| as a copy holder for thin sheets, as when copying, the rack is used with the double bent portions 2|a, 2 lb at the front as in Fig. 1. To provide for the following of the lines as the typing progresses, I provide a line follower. This follower which I have designated generally by the reference character 28, is provided with a line-follower strip 28a. One end of this line-follower strip 28a is free, the other end being supported by an integral slide 28b at the side of the rack where a double bend, as Mb, provides a supporting means. This follower 28 is preferably made of steel or other spring material and the end 281) embraces the double bent portion 2 lb or 2 la in such a way that friction caused by its resiliency holds it in place but permits of sliding along the double bent portion Zlb or Zla, with which it is in contact. The bent spring portion 28b engages the edge of the double bent portion 2Ib and extends therearound and engages the back of the rack 2| as at 280 in Fig. 10. By this construction, the slide can be moved with the line follower, as the lines of the copy C have been completed.

Herein, where I refer to copy, it is to be understood I mean a book, as B; a magazine, as M or loose or bound papers C, any of which my holder is constructed to hold in place.

In using my invention with sheets of a manuscript, for example, the sheets are clipped or otherwise secured to the rack, as shown in Fig. l. The line follower 28 may be placed at the top of the rack and as the lines are completed, the line follower is moved down with the progress of the work copied so that it is possible to avoid mistakes in copying.

When in use with a magazine M, as in reading, the double bent portion 21a, 2| 1) will serve to hold the fold and the edges, respectively, in place.

In addition, the retaining members 25 are adjusted so that while holding the bottoms of the pages, they may also hold the bottom double bent portion 2la or 21b so that the rack 2| may not be accidentally displaced from the rectangular cuts 22c of the pivoting member 22.

When used as a book holder, as when reading, the bottoms of the book cover boards may be placed behind the double bent portion as 2112 when the rack occupies a horizontal position, the retaining members 25 being adjusted to press against the bottoms of the sheet without interfering with the reading matter and at the same time being placed so that they will bear against the edge of the bent portion 2lb, holding this member in place.

Another method of holding a book which may be too large to be placed behind the double bend 2 la is to reverse the position of the rack 21, placing the double bent portions Zia, 2lb facing the rear as viewed by the operator. In this case, the cuts 22d are used, the cover boards of the book being placed therein. When the book is in place, the retaining members 25 are brought up so as to press against the open page, without interfering with the reading matter. In this position, the finger screws 24 are tightened on the sliding slot 22e and the book is ready to read. In this position, a part of the weight of the book will be taken by the bridge portion 22b.

As already pointed out, it may be advantageous to turn the rack 2| at 90 with the double bent portions toward the operator in order to take full advantage of the double bent portions, having the proper one on the side to receive a magazine fold and produce the best results.

In Fig. 12, I have illustrated a modified form of the line-follower, which is designated generally as I28, and is provided with a line-follower strip l28a. At one end of the strip mm is the bent end l28b which embraces the double bent portion 2 lb or 21a, as the case may be.

Secured to the outer end of the bent end [28b is a tab |28c which may be used as a finger piece to use the line-follower when in use.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a modification of the step adjusting device wherein the portion l2l, with its steps 121a, is stamped from the body of the base plate member 20. It is to be understood that the parts I21 and [21a are the counterparts of the parts 21 and 21a and operate in the manner described for those parts.

While I have described and shown an embodiment of the invention, with some slight modifications, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative and that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A copy holder having a supporting base means, a pivoting means pivotally mounted on the base means, a copy-supporting rack having two sides with substantially similar double bent portions to receive the copy and having two open sides opposite the double bent portions, the pivoting means being connected to the rack with a slot connection for readily and detachably securing the rack and pivoting means together in a plurality of positions in the plane of the rack in either one of two positions at from each other.

2. A copy holder having a supporting base means, a pivoting means pivotally mounted on the base means, a copy-supporting rack for supporting the copy, the rack having a double bent portion at each of two edges with sufiicient space between the folds and the main body of the rack to receive the fold of a magazine, the edges opposite the bent portions being open, the pivoting member having a cut away slot portion to form a rest for the rack in either one of two positions substantially 90 apart, adjusting means for securing the pivoting member and rack at any one of a plurality of positions to adjust the plane of the rackto bring the line of sight substantially normal to the rack plane and means on the pivoting member to adjustably bear against the sheets of the copy.

3. A copy holder having a support base means, a pivoting means pivotally mounted on the base means, a reversible copy-supporting rack for supporting the copy, the rack having a double bent portion at one edge of a size to receive the copy when the double bent portion is in position toward the operator, the opposite edge being open, and means to hold the cover and pages of a book in place when the rack is in a reverse position, the rack and pivoting member having coacting means for holding the rack and pivoting member in relative position when the holder is being used.

ARTHUR RAYMOND KEITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,384,861 Schingel July 19, 1921 1,436,544 Starr Nov. 21, 1922 1,483,421 Farnham Feb. 12, 1924 1,488,282 Phillips Mar. 25, 1924 1,864,807 Dahlgren June 28, 1932 2,219,091 Henderson Oct. 22, 1940 2,239,791 Lemperle Apr. 29, 1941 2,374,409 Brennan Apr. 24, 1945 

